This information paper contains experimental estimates for the Australian manufacturing industry for the 2006-07and 2007-08 reference periods.

Historically, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collected manufacturing data at the class level of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006 (ANZSIC), using survey methodology based on direct collection of data. The latest estimates produced by this methodology are published in Manufacturing Industry, Australia, 2006-07 (cat. no. 8221.0). Changes in the ABS economic surveys work program no longer supports this level of disaggregation for the manufacturing industry from data collected using direct collection survey methods.

This paper presents an experimental methodology being investigated to produce manufacturing estimates at the ANZSIC class level which is not based predominantly on survey data. This development should be of substantial benefit to analysts and decision makers (including businesses themselves) who require finer levels of detail regarding industry classification than is currently released in Australian Industry (cat. no. 8155.0).

These experimental estimates use a combination of data directly collected in ABS surveys and Business Activity Statement (BAS) data sourced from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Modelling techniques are applied to combine these two data sources in order to produce experimental estimates at the ANZSIC class level. The methodology used to compile these statistics is described in Chapter 2.

Experimental estimates presented in this paper are produced at the ANZSIC class level for a select number of data items where ABS data and BAS data are well correlated. The data items are wages and salaries, sales and service income and industry value added (IVA). Two reference years of data are presented, 2006-07 and 2007-08, enabling level and movement analysis.

Chapter 3 presents a summary of data from analysis of the table of experimental estimates contained in the Appendix. Information about the reliability of the experimental estimates is included in Chapter 4.

The estimates in this publication are considered experimental and should be used with caution. Care should be taken when using these experimental estimates as modelling may introduce non-sampling error. This is further described in Chapter 4.

The methodology used to compile these experimental estimates is subject to continued evaluation and possible further change, thus the ANZSIC class estimates for 2006-07 published in Manufacturing Industry, Australia, 2006-07 (cat. no. 8221.0) are the official ABS statistics.

FUTURE PLANS

The ABS intends to release modelled, ANZSIC class level estimates for the manufacturing industry on an annual basis commencing with the 2008-09 reference period, in the absence of directly collected data. The estimates will be published after the publication of Australian Industry, 2008-09 (cat. no. 8155.0).

The ABS is investigating extending the use of this methodology to satisfy other areas of unmet demand. The following areas are being considered subject to rigorous evaluation:

ANZSIC class level estimates for other industries

State and territory breakdown by industry subdivision

Additional data items such as profit measures and employment.

USER COMMENTS AND FURTHER INFORMATION

Both the methodology used to compile the experimental estimates in this information paper and the plans for extending the use the ABS makes of ATO BAS data are subject to further evaluation. The ABS is very interested in feedback from users of these statistics. Users are invited to provide comments to the ABS on any aspect of this release, including particular experimental estimates contained within. Please contact Annual Integrated Collections on (02) 9268 4269 or client.services@abs.gov.au to provide feedback or seek further information about the methodology used in these experimental estimates.

ABS DATA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

There are no further experimental estimates, based on this alternative methodology, available for the manufacturing industry for 2006-07 and 2007-08 or earlier years.

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Other ABS publications and products which may be of interest are listed below. These publications are available free of charge from the ABS website www.abs.gov.au.

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